Regulations Summary and Area Map July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016

This brochure is designed to provide the public with information and a summary of regulations pertaining to hunting and other recreational use on the Grove Park Wildlife Management Area. Regulations that are new or differ substantially from last year are shown in bold print. Area users should familiarize themselves with all regulations. For exact wording of the wildlife laws and regulations, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s wildlife code, on file with the Secretary of State and state libraries. This brochure and the Recreation Use Permit worksheet should provide the information necessary for you to plan your hunting activities. These publications are available from any Commission office, county tax collector and at MyFWC.com.

Persons using wildlife management areas are required to have appropriate licenses, permits and stamps. The following persons are exempt from all license and permit requirements (except for quota permits when listed as “no exemptions”, recreational use permits, antlerless deer permits and the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp [federal duck stamp]): Florida residents who are 65 years of age or older; residents who possess a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate; residents in the U.S. Armed Forces, not stationed in Florida, while home on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders; and children under 16 years of age. Children under 16 years of age are exempt from the federal duck stamp. Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 and 16 years of age or older must have passed a Commission-approved hunter-safety course prior to being issued a hunting license, except the Hunter Safety Mentoring exemption allows anyone to purchase a hunting license and hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter, 21 years of age or older.

Licenses and permits may be purchased from county tax collectors, license agents, at MyFWC.com/license or by telephone at 888-486-8356. A no-cost Migratory Bird Permit is available when purchasing a hunting license. Any waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older must possess a federal duck stamp.

Recreational Use Permit Information

A $475 recreational use permit is required to hunt on this area; there are no exemptions, except that 1 dependent child, under 16 years of age, per permittee may hunt under the supervision of the permittee and is exempt from the fee. The number of available recreational use permits will be indicated on the recreational use permit worksheet. Recreational use permits are not transferable.

Permit applications: Hunters must submit electronic applications for recreational use permits through the Commission’s Recreational License Issuance Services (RLIS). Successful applicants have the option of renewing their permits for up to 2 additional years. Please refer to the hunting handbook or MyFWC.com for dates to renew permits or apply for remaining permits. A worksheet with a list of available permits may be obtained 1-2 weeks before each application period from FWC offices, tax collectors, license agents and at MyFWC.com.

General Area Regulations

All general laws and regulations relating to wildlife and fish shall apply unless specifically exempted for this area. Hunting or the taking of wildlife or fish on this area shall be allowed only during the open seasons and in accordance with the following regulations:

Any person hunting deer or accompanying another person hunting deer shall wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent-orange material as an outer garment, above the waistline. These provisions are not required when hunting with a bow and arrow during archery season.

Taking of spotted fawn, swimming deer or roosted turkey is prohibited. Species legal to hunt are listed under each season.

It is illegal to hunt over bait or place any bait or other food for wildlife on this area.

Driving a metal object into any tree, or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven, is prohibited.

No person shall cut, damage or remove any natural, man-made or cultural resource without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.

Taking or attempting to take any game with the aid of live decoys, recorded game calls or sounds, set guns, artificial light, net, trap, snare, drug or poison is prohibited. Recorded calls and sounds can be used to hunt furbearers, wild hog and crows.

The wanton and willful waste of wildlife is prohibited.

Hunting, fishing or trapping is prohibited on any portion of the area posted as closed to those activities.

People, dogs, vehicles and other recreational equipment are prohibited in areas posted as “Closed to Public Access” by FWC administrative action.

Taking or herding wildlife from any motorized vehicle, aircraft or boat, which is under power is prohibited until power, and movement from that power, has ceased.

Most game may be hunted from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset (see exceptions for each season).

The release of any animal is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.

The head and evidence of sex may not be removed from the carcass of any deer or turkey on the area.

The planting or introduction of any non-native plant is prohibited, without written authorization of the landowner or primary land manager.

Wild hog may not be transported alive.

A hunting license is not required for the take of wild hog.

Littering is prohibited.

Fires are prohibited.

A Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement Officer may search any camp, vehicle or boat, in accordance with law.

Falconers may hunt during the statewide falconry season anytime a management area is open for public access. Falconers are not exempt from the recreational use permit requirement.

Public Access and Vehicles

Recreational access is allowed only by individuals possessing a Grove Park recreational use permit (except as described in #2 and #3 below), except that the spouse and dependent children of a permittee may engage in outdoor recreational activities other than hunting while in the company of the permittee. One minor dependent, under 16 years of age, may hunt with the permittee.

All persons are allowed on designated recreational trails (see map) year round for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding, provided they stay on the trails. A Grove Park recreational use permit is not required.

Operation of vehicles by persons without a Grove Park recreational use permit is prohibited, except that all persons may operate vehicles on Prison Farm, Ivey and Johnson roads for the purpose of through travel.

Non-motorized bicycles may be ridden on designated recreational trails only, except that persons possessing a Grove Park recreational use permit may also ride non-motorized bicycles on named or numbered roads.

During periods closed to hunting, horses may be ridden on designated recreational trails only, except that persons possessing a Grove Park recreational use permit may also ride horses on named or numbered roads. Horseback riding is prohibited during periods open to hunting, except on designated recreational trails.

Vehicles are prohibited in the Camps Canal walk-in area, those lands lying south of CR 346 and in those lands lying north of CR 2082. Vehicles are allowed only on named or numbered roads in the remaining portion of the area.

Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, gate or firelane.

No motor vehicle shall be operated on any part of any wildlife management area that has been designated as closed to vehicular traffic. Motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles may only be operated on roads open to other motor vehicles.

Hunters

Hunting equipment may not be taken onto the WMA until after 8 a.m. the day before the opening of a season and shall be removed by 6 p.m. 1 day after the end of the season.

Plum Creek Timber Company may conduct timber management at any time, including hunting seasons.

Guns

Hunting on or from the rights-of-way of County Roads 325, 346 and 2082 is prohibited.

Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.

Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .40 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.

Air guns may be used to hunt gray squirrel and rabbits during any season when these species are legal to hunt, except archery and muzzleloading gun.

Children under the age of 16 hunting with a firearm or air gun must be in the presence of a supervising adult.

No person shall discharge a firearm or have a loaded firearm in hand while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

For hunting non-migratory game, only shotguns, rifles, pistols, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used.

For hunting migratory game, only shotguns, bows, crossbows or falconry may be used. Shotguns shall not be larger than 10 gauge and shall be incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Hunting with full automatic firearms, centerfire semi-automatic rifles having a magazine capable of holding more than 5 rounds, explosive or drug-injecting devices and set guns is prohibited.

The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.

Dogs

Hunting with dogs other than bird dogs is prohibited.

No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.

Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.

For purposes other than hunting, dogs are allowed, but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.

Camping

Prohibited.

Bag and Possession Limits

Deer -

Archery season - daily limit 2, possession limit 4. This limit may include any combination of antlered and antlerless deer.

Legal to Hunt - Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, antlerless deer (which includes does and bucks with antlers less than 5 inches in length, but not spotted fawn), wild hog, turkey of either sex, gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk, nutria and migratory birds in season.

Regulations Unique to Archery Season -

Youth less than 16 years of age may harvest antlered deer with at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.

Hunting with guns or crossbows (except by disabled crossbow permit) is prohibited, except that centerfire shotguns are allowed for hunting migratory birds when 1 or more species are legal to hunt (see Migratory Bird section and the current Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet).

Legal to Hunt - Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, wild hog, gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk, nutria and migratory birds in season.

Regulations Unique to Muzzleloading Gun Season -

Youth less than 16 years of age may harvest antlered deer with at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.

Hunting with archery equipment or guns, other than muzzleloading guns, is prohibited, except that centerfire shotguns are allowed for hunting migratory birds when 1 or more species are legal to hunt (see Migratory Bird section and the current Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations pamphlet).

Legal to Hunt - Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, wild hog, gray squirrel, quail, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, beaver, coyote, skunk, nutria and migratory birds in season. Bobcat and otter beginning December 1.

Regulations Unique to General Gun Season - Youth less than 16 years of age may harvest antlered deer with at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.

Only bows, crossbows and shotguns using a #2 or smaller shot size may be used for hunting.

During the youth turkey hunt, only youth under 16 years of age may hunt and must be under the supervision and in the presence of an adult not younger than 18 years of age. Adults with required licenses and permits for taking wild turkeys may participate when in the presence of a youth, but may not harvest a wild turkey.

Migratory Bird Seasons

Rails, common moorhen, mourning dove, white-winged dove, snipe, woodcock and crows may be hunted during statewide migratory bird seasons that coincide with the seasons where migratory birds are listed as legal to hunt in this brochure. Ducks, geese and coot may be taken during statewide waterfowl seasons.

Regulations Unique to Fishing and Frogging - All General Freshwater Fishing Regulations shall apply. Shooting frogs is allowed only during the listed open hunting seasons and only with the legal methods of take during each particular season.

General Information

Information for persons with disabilities can be found at MyFWC.com/ADA.

If you have any questions about this material, please call the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 386-758-0525 (TDD 800-955-8771).

The FWC is not responsible for protection of personal property and will not be liable for theft of or damage to personal property.

Please report the location of any sick or extremely skinny deer to the Chronic Wasting Disease hotline, toll free at 866-293-9282.

Cooperation Requested

If you see law violators or suspicious activities, contact your nearest Commission regional office or call 888-404-FWCC. You may qualify for a cash reward from the Wildlife Alert Reward Association.

The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: The Office for Human Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. The project described in this publication is part of a program funded by federal dollars under the Wildlife Restoration Act. Federal funds pay 20 percent of the cost of the program.

FWC Facts:The turkey was wrongly named after what was thought to be its country of origin.